Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Got something you need to work on all night long? Well this will keep you up.

Apparently the folks running our counter-terrorism programs can't tell the difference between a Sunni and a Shiite. As the writer points out, this is like someone studying Northern Ireland who doesn't know the difference between Catholics and Protestants.

An example: "She took a stab at it: “It’s a difference in their fundamental religious beliefs. The Sunni are more radical than the Shia. Or vice versa. But I think it’s the Sunnis who’re more radical than the Shia.”

Lest you think it is some partisan hack with an axe to grind, the reporter is from the staid old Congressional Quarterly.